Nesquehoning brothers attain Boy Scouting's highest rank

David and Derek Marouchoc, both 18, learned through their careers as Boy Scouts to be kind, generous, helpful and respectful.

They worked hard through the years, working their way up from Cub Scout to Boy Scout and beyond.

On Sunday afternoon, the twin sons of Terry and Gerry Marouchoc of Nesquehoning, became the ninth and 10th Eagle Scouts of Boy Scout Troop 744 in Nesquehoning since 1956.

During the Eagle Court of Honor, held at St. John's Slovak Lutheran Church in Lansford, Steve Homcha, assistant Scoutmaster, welcomed friends and family to watch as David and Derek joined an elite group that includes notable figures like astronaut Neil Armstrong, former President Gerald Ford, and filmmaker Steven Spielberg.

"Today is a special day," he said, adding that the Eagle Scout is the highest rank a boy can achieve in his Boy Scouting career.

Gerry Marouchoc, the boys' father and assistant Scoutmaster, and Joe Trimmel Jr., assistant Scoutmaster, then explained the Scout Emblem and Scout Law.

Boy Scouts in attendance read the meaning of the Boy Scout Law. There are 12 characteristics a Boy Scout must possess, including being trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent. Each characteristic was represented by a candle.

Following the readings, Matt Ockenhouse and Jerry Snyder, assistant Scoutmasters, introduced David and Derek as Eagle candidates. Stephen Simchak Jr., an Eagle Scout, then read the Eagle Charge.

Each boy lit candles, which represented the levels of Scouting they completed and the path they took that led up to yesterday.

They then took their oath and were officially named Eagle Scouts as their mother, Terry, pinned the Eagle Scout ribbon on their uniforms.

After the induction ceremony, Nesquehoning Mayor Tony Walck presented David and Derek with resolutions from the borough for their efforts and achievements in Scouting.

He congratulated the Scouts for making a difference in the community and for being role models for younger Scouts.

David and Derek then thanked their parents; former Scoutmaster Joe and Donna Trimmel for their support over the years; their friends and family in attendance; Mayor Walck for helping them find their Eagle Scout projects; Scoutmaster Chris Santore for helping to identify the plants at Air Products; and Mark Nalesnik, Carbon County Emergency Management Agency director, for helping to coordinate the shelving project.

The Rev. Marjorie Keiter provided the invocation and benediction, Donna Trimmel read the poem "Uniformed Little Boy," and Jennifer Vermillion served as the organist.

Following the ceremony, friends congratulated the family and celebrated with a luncheon.

To earn the rank of Eagle Scout, according to the Boy Scouts of America website, a Boy Scout must be active in his troop for at least six months after he achieved the rank of Life Scout. He must demonstrate the principles of the Scout Oath and Law in his daily life. He must also earn a total of 21 merit badges and choose a project that benefits the community. The Scout must then plan, lead and complete the project before his 18th birthday. His efforts are reviewed by a board of Eagle Scout officials before the Scout can attain the highest rank.

David chose to help the Carbon County Animal Response Team – a volunteer-based group that helps animals that have been neglected by building shelves, painting and organizing the group's trailer. He spent 114 hours over five months working on the task.

Derek chose to help nature lovers by identifying, cataloging and labeling 38 species of plants and trees along a nature trail just outside the Air Products plant in Hometown. He spent 113 hours over a six-month period on his project.

Since Scouting's inception in 1910, just over 2 million boys have attained the rank of Eagle Scout.